Intelligent automated assistant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025037723-A1
Application number	US-202418786310-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 26, 2024
Priority date	Jan 18, 2010
Publication date	Jan 30, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

The intelligent automated assistant system engages with the user in an integrated, conversational manner using natural language dialog, and invokes external services when appropriate to obtain information or perform various actions. The system can be implemented using any of a number of different platforms, such as the web, email, smartphone, and the like, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the system is based on sets of interrelated domains and tasks, and employs additional functionally powered by external services with which the system can interact.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . An electronic device, comprising:
one or more processors; a memory; and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
presenting a plurality of search results to a user through a dialogue interface of a digital assistant;
receiving, from the user, a reservation request for a search result of the plurality of search results;
in response to receiving the reservation request, executing a reservation procedure corresponding to the search result, wherein executing the reservation procedure includes converting a reservation hold to a reservation;
while executing the reservation procedure, receiving a user input through the dialogue interface of the digital assistant; and
providing, by the digital assistant, an output based on the user input.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of search results correspond to a plurality of restaurants identified in accordance with a restaurant search request, and the reservation procedure reserves a table at a respective restaurant corresponding to the search result.

4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of search results correspond to a plurality of entertainment events identified in accordance with an entertainment search request, and the reservation procedure purchases or reserves one or more tickets for a respective entertainment event corresponding to the search result.

5 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the restaurant search request further includes context information associated with a speech input and wherein the one or more programs including instructions for:
identifying one or more search criteria based at least in part on context information associated with a speech input; and identifying a plurality of reservable items in accordance with the one or more search criteria to generate the plurality of search results.

6 . The device of claim 5 , the one or more programs including instructions for:
maintaining the context information based on one or more prior user interactions between the user and the digital assistant through the dialogue interface.

7 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the context information includes one or more of a current location, a current time, user preferences, calendar information, and contacts associated with the user.

8 . The device of claim 2 , the one or more programs including instructions for:
for each of the plurality of search results, presenting respective one or more properties of a respective reservable item corresponding to the search result, each respective property corresponding to a respective one of a search criteria used in identifying the plurality of search results.

9 . The device of claim 2 , the one or more programs including instructions for:
presenting one or more user interface elements in the dialogue interface along with the plurality of search results, wherein selection of at least one of the user interface elements causes presentation of additional information related to one or more of the search results in the dialogue interface.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein selection of the at least one of the user interface elements causes presentation of one or more of a review, a map, a trailer, an availability summary, and a rating associated with one or more of the plurality of search results.

11 . The device of claim 2 , the one or more programs including instructions for:
presenting one or more user interface elements in the dialogue interface along with the plurality of search results, wherein selection of at least one of the user interface elements causes a follow-on action associated with one or more of the plurality of search results to be executed by the digital assistant.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein selection of the at least one of the user interface elements causes one or more follow-on actions including: initiating a telephonic call to a third party, submitting a review, saving a link, sharing a link, requesting directions, making a reservation, and purchasing one or more tickets, to be executed by the digital assistant with regard to one or more of the plurality of search results.

13 . The device of claim 2 , the one or more programs including instructions for:
providing a speech output through the dialogue interface, the speech output paraphrasing a search request received from the user.

14 . The device of claim 2 , the one or more programs including instructions for:
providing a speech output concurrently with the plurality of search results, the speech output announcing one or more search criteria used to identify the plurality of search results.

15 . The device of claim 2 , the one or more programs including instructions for:
providing a speech output through the dialogue interface, the speech output requesting at least one additional search criterion for a received search request; in response to providing the speech output, receiving input from the user through the dialogue interface; and supplementing the received search request with the user input.

16 . The device of claim 2 , the one or more programs including instructions for:
generating and storing a reminder or calendar entry in accordance with a reservable item corresponding to the search result.

17 . The device of claim 2 , the one or more programs including instructions for:
generating an invitation for another user in accordance with a reservable item corresponding to the search result.

18 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a first electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for:
presenting a plurality of search results to a user through a dialogue interface of a digital assistant; receiving, from the user, a reservation request for a search result of the plurality of search results; in response to receiving the reservation request, executing a reservation procedure corresponding to the search result, wherein executing the reservation procedure includes converting a reservation hold to a reservation; while executing the reservation procedure, receiving a user input through the dialogue interface of the digital assistant; and providing, by the digital assistant, an output based on the user input.

19 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
at an electronic device with one or more processors and memory: presenting a plurality of search results to a user through a dialogue interface of a digital assistant; receiving, from the user, a reservation request for a search result of the plurality of search results; in response to receiving the reservation request, executing a reservation procedure corresponding to the search result, wherein executing the reservation procedure includes converting a reservation hold to a reservation; while executing the reservation procedure, receiving a user input through the dialogue interface of the digital assistant; and providing, by the digital assistant, an output based on the user input.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Gruber Thomas R
• Cheyer Adam J
• Keen Daniel

Classifications

• G06F16/9537

  Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries · CPC title

• G06F16/2457

  with adaptation to user needs · CPC title

• G10L2015/226

  using non-speech characteristics · CPC title

• G10L15/22

  Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue · CPC title

• G06F3/167 Primary

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title